Trying to finish first quilt

I am working on finishing my first quilt. I had a quilt that was suited to be a baby quilt through a misunderstanding originally making it. I added panels along all sides to make it longer.

Now, it is the size I want it to be. But, I have no idea how to cut batting to make it fit and how to sew it all together.

I thought I would cut the batting to match the size of the backing and then sew it to the backing.

After that, I planned to "stitch the ditch" for the squares. but, since i have the large panels on the side that have no squares and I don't want to have it have the yarn tuft things, i have no idea what to do.

Can you post a photo so that we can see where you are in the process? There are a couple of ways to finish your quilt. You could do the pillowcase method, where you lay your backing and your front right sides together, place the batting on top, baste, sew around the perimeter for all but about 12 inches and then turn everything inside out. The other way is to lay your backing face down, batting on top of it, then top right-side up on top of that, baste, quilt, cut off the excess and bind.

A fabric stash is always missing that one fabric needed to finish the quilt on which you're working.

Hi - Is there anyway that you can post a picture of your quilt? That would certainly help with giving you some ideas for how to quilt it.

As for the batting, I usually cut my batting 3-4 inches larger than my top and then the backing about 3-4 inches larger than the batting. I quilt on a regular sewing machine, i.e., not a longarm so I don't need as much overage. You should have some though, because the quilting will take up the fabric and you'll need the extra to square the quilt when you're done.

I think you want to sew all three (backing, batting and front) together at the same time. You can make a different design in the borders...lines, Xs, just about anything. But it sounds like you are planning on sewing the batting and back together first and then sew the top on it. I may have read it wrong. But if that's what you are planning on doing, don't. You are making an extra step for yourself. I'm proud of you to make your first quilt and want to quilt it yourself!!! And on your own, you added borders. You are doing terrific for a beginner!!

"Be yourself...everyone else is taken."
Strong people don't put others down...they build them up."
"Remember that your instincts are more important than rules"

Thanks for the compliments! This has been very hard. You are right, my plan was to sew the back and batting first, then the top. I didn't think about sewing them all at the same time. I am not the greatest at sewing, so I just wanted to make sure it would stay.

My dad was suggesting to stitch the ditch all the way to the ends, but I don't want it to look bad.